ListingsUpdated Mon 26 Oct
Seasonal events in London
The annual fixtures: Halloween, Bonfire Night, the Christmas markets and lights, New Year, Pride, Carnival. Each has its own guide, rewritten every year with confirmed dates.
Friday
20 November-
Seasonal
Hampton Court Palace ice rink
Until 3 Jan 2027
In front of the west front of the palace, floodlit, with its own ticket separate from palace admission. 2026 dates not yet announced.
Saturday
21 November-
Seasonal From £15
Pantomime at Hackney Empire
Until 3 Jan 2027
The best regarded panto in London and a fraction of the west end price, in a Matcham theatre that was nearly lost twice. Book early: locals get in first and it deserves them.
Tuesday
1 December-
Markets Free
Greenwich Market in December
Until 31 Dec
The covered one, open every day 10am to 5.30pm and shut only on Christmas Day. Craft and antiques from actual traders, and the naval college two minutes away.
-
Gigs From £20
Carols by candlelight at St Martin-in-the-Fields
Until 24 Dec
Carols by candlelight in the church on the corner of Trafalgar Square, sung most evenings through December. The crypt cafe underneath stays open before and after.
Thursday
3 December-
Seasonal Free
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree
Until 6 Jan 2027
Given by Norway every year since 1947 in thanks for the war, lit with vertical strings of plain white bulbs in the Norwegian way. Carols are sung under it most evenings in December.
-
Seasonal From £25.50
Christmas at Kew: adults only evening
New for 2026: the light trail with no children on it, on Wednesday 3 December. Same route and same last entry times by gate, and only two of these evenings all season.
Sunday
6 December-
Clubs From £19
Electric Ballroom: Bongo’s Bingo (Christmas Special Daytime)
A daytime Christmas edition of Bongo's Bingo: bingo with a festive twist, singalongs, dance-offs, rave rounds and cash prizes.
Wednesday
9 December-
Seasonal From £25.50
Christmas at Kew: adults only evening
New for 2026: the light trail with no children on it, on Wednesday 9 December. Same route and same last entry times by gate, and only two of these evenings all season.
Saturday
12 December-
Seasonal From £25
Pantomime at the London Palladium
Until 11 Jan 2027
The biggest panto in the country in a house built for variety, which is what panto actually is. Matinees are the ones with children in; evenings are louder and funnier.
-
Gigs £22 in advance plus booking fee
The 100 Club: The Fabulous Lounge Swingers
The Fabulous Lounge Swingers' Christmas knees-up, now in its 17th year, with swing, mash-ups and covers.
Thursday
17 December-
Clubs £15 on the door
The 100 Club: 6T’s Northern Soul Xmas Party
The 6T's Rhythm and Soul Society's annual northern soul Christmas party, shorter than its all-nighters.
Wednesday
23 December-
Gigs £35 in advance plus booking fee
The 100 Club: The Blockheads
The Blockheads, the band behind Ian Dury's hits, throw a Christmas knees-up.
